Kiera Jefferson
Pollution in Factorio is an important aspect of the game that can have significant impacts on gameplay. It is influenced by the player's machinery and energy consumption, attracting enemies called biters that can attack and destroy the player's factory. While pollution settings can be adjusted or disabled entirely, managing pollution effectively is crucial to prevent negative consequences. This involves strategies such as using efficiency modules, transitioning to cleaner energy sources like solar power, and considering the placement of polluting structures near forests to utilise the pollution-absorbing capabilities of trees. Trees absorb pollution but eventually degrade and die, contributing to higher pollution levels. Players can also explore mods like Bio-Industries for greener production methods. This topic guide will explore strategies to reduce and manage pollution in Factorio, ensuring a more sustainable and less hostile gameplay experience.
How to get rid of pollution in Factorio
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Trees | Absorb a small amount of pollution, but will lose leaves or become grey. Once the sum of damage is above 120%, the tree stops losing leaves and becoming greyer. |
| Pollution Settings | Can be changed via map generation settings or disabled entirely. |
| Evolution Factor | Not increased by spreading/absorbed pollution, but by the pollution produced by the player's machinery. |
| Pollution Cloud | Triggers biter attacks and determines the size of the attacks. |
| Spawners | Absorb a lot of pollution and use this to assign enemies to attacks. |
| Biters | Are attracted to the player's factory and will attempt to reach and destroy the source of pollution. |
| Water | Any water near the source of pollution will turn green (visual effect that can be turned off). |
| Electric Drills | Produce less pollution than burners (2.4x less per ore). |
| Steam Power | Productivity modules in labs will increase power usage and pollution. |
| Efficiency Modules | Can remove almost all pollution. |
| Solar Power | Offers long-term pollution-free power, but the pollution production cost of panels and accumulators is high. |
| Nuclear Power | Less polluting alternative to solar, but the setup process is polluting. |
| Electric Furnaces | Supplied with clean energy, they produce only 1/4 of the pollution of regular furnaces. |
| Productivity Modules | Increase energy and pollution production but produce a free product with no inputs. |
| Hand Mining and Crafting | Can reduce pollution, especially at the start of the game, but goes against the game's focus on automation. |
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What You'll Learn
Use efficiency modules to reduce pollution by 80%
Efficiency modules are an effective way to reduce pollution in Factorio. These modules lower the required electricity to run a machine, reducing power consumption and, in turn, pollution generation. This is because pollution production is directly linked to a machine's energy consumption.
The use of efficiency modules can reduce pollution by up to 80%, which is a significant amount. This reduction is capped at 80%, meaning that even with more modules, pollution cannot be reduced beyond this point. To achieve this level of reduction, three efficiency 1 modules should be placed in every electric mining drill and oil rig. This will significantly decrease the pollution generated by these machines, which are often the biggest polluters in the game.
Additionally, efficiency modules can be used in conjunction with solar power to further reduce pollution. While solar panels themselves produce pollution during their production and installation, they offer long-term pollution-free power. By using efficiency modules to reduce the power consumption of machines, the pollution generated by solar panels can be offset.
It is important to note that efficiency modules do not directly reduce pollution; instead, they reduce the power consumption of machines, which leads to lower pollution generation. This indirect effect can still have a substantial impact on the overall pollution levels in the game.
Efficiency modules are a powerful tool for managing pollution in Factorio, and when used strategically, they can help players achieve significant reductions in pollution levels and mitigate their environmental impact.
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Switch to solar power for pollution-free energy
Solar power is a great way to generate energy without producing pollution in Factorio. It is a long-term, pollution-free power source, although the pollution cost of setting up solar panels and accumulators is significant.
To switch to solar power, you'll need to build solar panels and accumulators. Solar panels generate energy during the day, which can be stored in accumulators and used at night when the panels aren't producing energy. The number of accumulators you'll need depends on the quality of your solar panels and accumulators, as well as the planet you're on. On a planet with a day-night cycle, you'll generally need about 0.84672 accumulators for each solar panel to sustain power through the night. However, if you're playing in the Space Age expansion, keep in mind that solar panels on space platforms will generate energy constantly and at a higher rate due to the lack of night-time. In this case, the optimal ratio of solar panels to accumulators will be different.
One strategy is to connect your extractors and furnaces to an electric network with just enough solar panels to power them during the day. You can then keep this network separate from your factory's main electric network. During the day, you can produce excess metal plates and store them, shutting down the drills and furnaces at night to conserve energy. This way, instead of storing energy, you're storing the output of the energy.
Another option is to use a combination of solar power, accumulators, and steam engines. Solar power will be used during the day, with accumulators providing backup. When the charge of the accumulators falls below a certain threshold, you can set up a circuit network to disconnect the accumulators and switch to steam power. This way, you minimize the use of polluting steam engines while still having them as a backup option.
By switching to solar power, you can significantly reduce the pollution generated by your factories. It's a great step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly base in Factorio.
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Plant trees to absorb pollution
Trees are a natural solution to combat pollution in Factorio. Every single tree absorbs a small amount of pollution in its chunk per second. This absorption rate is dependent on the density of the leaves; the denser the leaves, the faster the tree absorbs pollution.
However, trees have their limitations in combating pollution. As the pollution level increases, trees will start to lose their leaves or become greyer in colour. This process reduces their absorption rate, and once a tree reaches a certain level of damage, it will stop absorbing pollution altogether. Even if pollution levels drop, trees will never recover, and dead trees absorb less pollution, which can lead to a vicious cycle of increasing pollution levels.
Therefore, it is essential to manage the number and health of trees near pollution sources. Players should avoid building near deserts or open areas and instead locate their bases near forests. By doing so, they can take advantage of the trees' natural ability to absorb pollution and reduce the amount of pollution that escapes their base.
Additionally, players can use the "Bio-Industries" mod, which includes tree nurseries that can help produce products "greenly" and contribute to air purification efforts.
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Avoid building near deserts or open areas
When it comes to managing pollution in Factorio, one key strategy is to avoid building your factory near deserts or open areas. This is because such areas lack the natural pollution absorbers found in more forested regions. Trees, for instance, play a crucial role in absorbing pollution. Each tree absorbs a small amount of pollution per second, with the rate of absorption depending on the density of its leaves. However, if the pollution levels are too high, trees will start to wither and die, reducing their absorption capacity.
Therefore, when selecting a location for your base, it is advisable to seek out areas with dense tree coverage. This way, the trees can act as a natural buffer, absorbing a significant portion of the pollution generated by your factory. By building near forests, you can take advantage of their pollution-absorbing properties to mitigate the environmental impact of your industrial activities.
Additionally, the type of terrain you build on can also influence pollution levels. Deserts and open areas tend to have different airflow patterns than forested areas, which can affect the dispersion of pollution. Open areas with minimal obstacles may facilitate the spread of pollution over a wider area. On the other hand, the dense foliage of forests can help to contain and dissipate pollution more effectively.
Moreover, the absence of trees in deserts and open areas means there are fewer natural barriers to impede the movement of biters. These hostile creatures are attracted to pollution and will attempt to reach its source to destroy it. By building near deserts or open areas, you may inadvertently provide biters with a direct path to your factory, increasing the frequency of attacks.
In summary, when establishing your base in Factorio, it is advisable to avoid deserts and open areas. Instead, seek out locations with dense tree coverage to capitalize on their natural pollution-absorbing capabilities. This strategy not only helps to reduce pollution levels but also serves as a defensive measure against biters, creating a more sustainable and secure environment for your factory's operations.
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Use the Electric Stone Furnace mod
If you're looking for ways to reduce pollution in Factorio, one option is to use the Electric Stone Furnace mod. This mod introduces an electric version of the basic stone furnace, which can be crafted from the stone furnace and uses electricity instead of burnable fuel. While it's slower than the traditional stone furnace, it produces less pollution for the same amount of resources smelted, making it a more eco-friendly option.
The Electric Stone Furnace mod can be particularly useful in the early game when you're just starting to build your base. By using electric drills instead of burner drills, you can significantly reduce pollution as electric drills produce only 1/4 of the pollution of burners. This early electric furnace is a great option for those wanting to reduce pollution and are not concerned about speed and cost.
While the Electric Stone Furnace mod can help reduce pollution, it's important to note that it requires more furnaces, inserters, belts, and space, which can increase the overall cost. However, if your priority is to minimise pollution, this mod is a great choice. It's also a good idea to combine this mod with other pollution-reducing strategies, such as using efficiency modules, switching to solar or nuclear power, and managing the placement of trees near your factory.
The Electric Stone Furnace mod is a popular choice for players looking to reduce their pollution levels in Factorio. It offers a slower but more environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional stone furnace, making it ideal for those who want to focus on eco-friendly gameplay. By using electricity instead of fuel and being crafted from the basic stone furnace, this mod helps to reduce the overall pollution generated by smelting resources.
It's worth noting that while the Electric Stone Furnace mod can help reduce pollution, it may not be enough on its own to completely eliminate pollution in your factory. Combining it with other strategies, such as using efficiency modules and transitioning to cleaner power sources, can further reduce pollution and create a more sustainable gameplay experience in Factorio.
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